Free-agent failures aplenty for Patriots this year

Former Cincinnati Bengals defensive lineman Jonathan Fanene may loom as the poster for the team’s bad investments, there have been other bad gambles dating back to former Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez, who couldn’t make it through the month of May in New England.

The Patriots signed 20 veteran free agents from opposing teams prior to the first practice of training camp.

With the team’s roster at the NFL limit of 75 entering tonight’s preseason finale with the Super Bowl champion New York Giants at MetLife Stadium (7 o’clock: Chs. 4, 64; WBZ-98.5 FM), just eight remain on the active roster and that number will likely dwindle further with the final cuts to 53 to come by 9 p.m. Friday.

The Patriots could have flipped a coin and had better luck in free agency.

While none of the moves has been of John Lackey-like proportions, if there is a poster child for the free-agent failures in Foxboro this calendar year it would have to be Fanene, who not only didn’t play a down for the Patriots, he couldn’t stay on the practice field for them.

Signed to a three-year, $9.85 million contract that included a signing bonus of $3.85 million, the former Cincinnati Bengals defensive lineman spent more time in the tub than with the club before he limped out of Foxboro with a “failure to disclose (a) physical condition” designation.

Meanwhile, say it ain’t so, Joe.

Addai, the running back who had a difficult time staying on the field in Indianapolis (he missed 12 games over the course of the 2010 and 2011 seasons and made it through an entire 16 regular-season just once, his rookie year of 2006), couldn’t make it past reporting day at Gillette Stadium.

So much for the notion that Addai would, at the very least, provide a Kevin Faulk-like presence in mentoring a young field of running backs led by 2011 draft picks Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen.

The only thing Addai taught the kids was how to get pink-slipped before the job really starts.

Then again, Addai’s stay in New England lasted longer than that of Gonzalez, another old Colt.

Among the first of the free agents to arrive this year (Gonzalez signed on March 17), the wide receiver was the first of the bunch to leave (May 29).

But at least Gonzalez put in a couple of months with the Patriots. Former Tennessee Titans tight end Bo Scaife’s stay (June 7-June 19) didn’t reach a couple of weeks.

Bo didn’t get to know New England.

In fairness, it could be said that the Patriots were simply taking a flyer with Scaife, while others were hired merely for training camp depth while facing insurmountable odds. Tim Bulman, the former Arizona Cardinals-Houston Texans defensive lineman who showed he can still play in the league, comes to mind.

Page 2 of 2 - Some have been hurt. Allen, the former New York Giants-Miami Dolphins safety, former Denver Broncos fullback-linebacker Spencer Larsen and offensive lineman Jamey Richard, yet another ex-Colt, were all placed on injured reserve.

But while there may be a handful who look like they could help – the well-traveled Brandon Lloyd (wide receiver), Daniel Fells (tight end), Bobby Carpenter (linebacker), San Diego Chargers safety Steve Gregory and perhaps ex-Oakland Raider Trevor Scott as an edge rusher – there are others who were being counted upon to help revamp the team who haven’t.

Fiammetta and Larsen were going to be part of a fullback revolution in the Patriots’ offense (looks like the revolution’s over); back for a second tour of duty with the Patriots, Jabar Gaffney and Donte’ Stallworth, both of whom spent last season with Washington, were going to help form a band of wide receivers the likes of which Tom Brady had never seen, yet neither of them could survive the drive to 75.

Like far too many others who were going to figure in the Patriots’ future, they have already been cast into the team’s past.